Flared Upchurch vase

Flared Upchurch vase

See also:

Flared Upchurch vase - 3¼" (82 mm) high.

Although Upchurch Pottery had several owners during its life, the most
important name associated with it is that of Edward Baker. The pottery was
founded in 1909 in Upchurch, between Rainham and Sittingbourne in Kent,
by the Wakely brothers. They were local businessmen with various irons in
the fire, who wanted to add the manufacture of bricks, tiles and drainpipes
to their other interests.

One of the the brothers was a friend of Reginald Wells and this might have been
the reason why, in 1913, they hired Edward Baker, who had worked with Wells
in Chelsea, to start producing art pottery.

Baker quickly established the pottery, and within two years was exhibiting
at major trade fairs. He experimented with glazes on shapes he designed
himself, and Upchurch pottery soon became widely known and appreciated.
Queen Mary was a patron.

Edward Spencer, who is mainly known for his design work with Martin Brothers,
collaborated with Baker in formulating recipes for glazes.

In 1936 the pottery was bought by Oscar and Grace Davies, who retained
the services of Baker as manager. Two years later they re-sold the pottery
to Alice Buxton Winnecott, and still Edward Baker stayed in charge. Miss
Winnecott introduced the Claverdon range of tableware and decorative items.
The Davieses opened the Roeginga Pottery
at Rainham. Edward's son, Edward Baker Junior managed it for them, and eventually
became the owner.

Edward Baker bought Upchurch Pottery from Mrs Winnecott in 1953, and
his eldest son, William helped him run it until his death in 1955. William
carried on there until 1963, when the pottery was closed, and Edward Junior
kept Roeginga Pottery operating until he retired in 1975.

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